Things to Do

Historic Painted Churches of the Texas Hill Country

The Historic Painted Churches is a series of historic churches located in the Texas Hill Country just outside of Austin. Many of these churches are Czech and German-inspired. Immigrants brought their architectural style of the 19th Century with them when they first hailed to Texas for economic reasons. These churches are called, “Painted” churches because they are uniquely designed and painted with elaborate and extravagant faux-finished interiors. They were built in the 1830s through 1900.

There are 20 painted churches in all, and they’re scattered among the rolling hills of the beautiful Hill Country. In 1984, these churches became listed as a part of the National Register of Historic Places.

The insides of these magnificent churches are layered with hours of painstaking labor by hand stenciling, infill, freehand, marbling, staining and graining. They are adorned with masterful paintings, shimmering stained glass, charming murals, and gold-encrusted altars.

No visit to Schulenburg is complete without a tour of the town’s famous painted churches, at least one of which dates back over 100 years. When the Czech and German immigrants who founded the town first came to Texas, they found themselves missing the comforts of home and went about building churches to bring the old world to Texas. The result was the creation of some of the most beautiful churches in the nation, full of stained glass and elaborate paintings. Travelers to Schulenburg have been visiting these churches for years, and for good reason!

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is located at 7745 Mensik Road in Schulenburg, Texas.

Nativity of Mary, Blessed Virgin Catholic Church is one of the first churches built by noted Texas architect, Leo M.J. Dielmann. It was built in 1906. Dielmann was the son of a contractor who already had a history of serving the Catholic Church of Texas in various building projects.

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